Monday, 15 August 2016

Why Women of Any Age Can Wear a Bikini - or Cover Up - if They Wish + the #iwillwearwhatilike Link Up

After almost a year of hosting the #iwillwearwhatilike link up the theme is finally swimwear / beachwear - here's to women at every age wearing bikinis, swimsuits or burkinis - in other words, whatever you damn well want to wear when you're at the pool, on the beach or lounging about on holiday. I'd especially love to see lots of bikinis linked up simply because this is the one item that seems to touch a nerve with (some) journalists who insist that if you're past the age of being able to have children then you really should put it away.

And if you've actually had children, god forbid you even think about getting your body out on the beach at all.

Aaaaargh let the madness stop!!

It's the flippin' 21st century and we're long past being told what to wear - and what not to wear. If you're even slightly contemplating whether you "should" be wearing a bikini at your age, ponder this:

SHOP THE LOOK:

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The difference between a swimsuit and a bikini is roughly a few inches of fabric - and therefore a few inches more skin on show. If anyone has a problem with one and not the other, they need a serious reality check. And if a 22-year-old woman wants to cover up from head to toe on the beach, then that's no one's business but her own. If a 72 year old wants to wear a bikini, the same applies... It's really that simple in the grand scheme of things. There are far more worse things in the world to worry about.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SWIMSUIT AND A BIKINI IS ROUGHLY A FEW INCHES OF FABRIC - AND THEREFORE A FEW INCHES MORE SKIN ON SHOW. IF ANYONE HAS A PROBLEM WITH ONE AND NOT THE OTHER, THEY NEED A SERIOUS REALITY CHECK.

So now that I've got that off my chest ;) I'll mention my own beachwear outfit!

I bought both the yellow bikini and the paisley beach jumpsuit last year for my holiday to Santorini - neither actually appeared on the blog in the end, but this weekend was so glorious they were put to use at long last once again in the garden. The jumpsuit is definitely a beachwear jumpsuit - it's unfortunately a little too see-through to wear out and about, otherwise I think I'd be donning it with a t-shirt or tank underneath and rocking it down Sainsbury's.

I can't see a time when I'll no longer be wearing a bikini - but you can rest assured that if and when that time does come it'll be my decision, and my decision alone...!

Pleeeeeease add ALL your outfits to this week's link up (not just beachwear!)... as always you may be featured next week if you've linked up something in this week's theme of beachwear, bikinis, swimsuits or swimwear.Don't forget only blog posts that include a link back here or my button - or Instagram posts with the #iwillwearwhatilike hashtag - will be considered!ARE YOU WEARING WHAT YOU LIKE WHEN IT COMES TO BEACHWEAR OR SWIMWEAR? HAVE YOU STARTED WEARING A BIKINI DESPITE WORRYING ABOUT IT IN THE PAST? COMMENT BELOW, OR TAKE IT TO TWITTER @NOTLAMB!

Thank you for joining the #iwillwearwhatilike link up! This started as a campaign on Instagram in August 2015 where women over 30 wore everything on a journalist's list of "inappropriate" items for 30+ women (including leopard print, short dresses and oversized sunglasses. Yes, really). It was so popular that I decided to carry it on weekly where women of all ages link up their fabulous style, never mind what anyone tells them not to wear!

The link up goes live every Monday at 3pm UK time and will stay open for a week. Whilst the original article was of course aimed at the 30+, you can be ANY age to link up. The only criteria is that you're wearing whatever you damn well like!

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To get yourself featured next week, link up something following this week's theme and make sure you've included a link back to Not Dressed As Lamb or my button in your post/sidebar!

DO SHARE THE LOVE AND VISIT AS MANY LINKS AS YOU CAN (YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT OTHER LOVELY LIKE-MINDED LADIES YOU MIGHT MEET) - THE ORIGINAL INSTAGRAM CAMPAIGN FORGED SOME WONDERFUL NEW FRIENDSHIPS SO DON'T MISS OUT!

44 comments

I love this post Catherine. Everything about it but mainly the sentiment. I remember seeing the stunning photo of you on your bikini in the pool on Instagam last year and thinking it was one of the most beautiful pics of you I've ever seen. You look amazing. The jumpsuit is soooo pretty too. Thank you for hosting xxxxx

I think it's going to take awhile for many older women to realize the whole idea behind #iwillwearwhatilike. Maybe because a lot of them aren't online much. And as my mother says---it's been 70 years of hearing the "rules" over and over---it's hard to change on a dime!But I'm campaigning too---I just don't have a swimsuit to show---I stay out of the sun as much as possible now! But you go girl!!jodiewww.jtouchofstyle.com

Great post Catherine! I think so many women get caught up in the idea of "rules" and really miss out on the fun! With my short torso, it is really a challenge to find a good one piece that is even comfortable for me, so it's always been a bikini. Every once in awhile the idea swarms into my head "should this be the year of the one-piece" and despite the fact I have had 2 children, I will be rocking a bikini till I just don't want to any more. I actually feel more confident in a bikini poolside because I am more comfortable. Whichever one chooses to wear - wear it with confidence. That "mommy tummy" of mine produced my two wonderfu children so I figure, why hide it?BTW you look FABULOUS in that bikini, and I love the jumpsuit!XOSuzannewww.AskSuzanneBell.com

Fabulous! I say if you've got and you want to flaunt it, by all means flaunt it! I was never comfortable in a bikini even in my teens and twenties as a competitive swimmer with a body that I would love to have in my forties! But I suppose even if I had my twenty-something body, I just was never comfortable in a two piece swimsuit. But like you said, that's my choice! Fortunately, there are super adorable one piece swim suits out there!

Catherine, love your hat and pretty jumpsuit too. I loved the bikini I bought this year from ASOS, black with red roses with kind of a vintage vibe. I wear bikinis more now than I did when I was in my 20s. Why not? If one is healthy and is comfortable with themselves :-) Have a great week!jess xxwww.elegantlydressedandstylish.com

That shot of you from the back is worthy of cinema time, Catherine, it really is. It's classy and sexy, and so artistic :) I've never worn anything but bikinis so I can't imagine being told it's a no no. Like you rightly said, it's a difference of several inches and scraps of fabric. Thank you, so much, for always reminding us that there is life after any of life's milestones, and that no one ought ever sit in a corner, wilting away. You are much loved for that xoxo

p/s and THANK YOU for featuring me!!! You've no idea how wide a grin is on my face right this very moment!!!

I had just started reading your blog last year when you were on vacation in Santorini. Loved seeing your photos on IG! And I loved your bikini blog post. Yes, everyone should decided what to wear at the beach/pool, and it's no one else's business! I love your cover up! Great color & pattern!

I feel a tad overdressed in my linkup this week, LOL! I haven't rocked a bikini since before Neo, and can't see me doing it again.. Sad i know, but i just cant get this tummy out in to the light.I am ok in a swimsuit, i may even venture in to a high waisted bikini this year. But with holidays in this country, there isn't much call for it so i haven't dipped my toe in yet. Inspired as always by yourself, maybe i should just take the plunge ;)Rxx

Totally love that theme and you are rockin that bikini. Love that holiday pic of yours! I have always been wearing bikinis. Just love them :) Just not in today's link-up. Have a great week Catherine and thanks for hosting! xo Sabina

I still wear a bikini on holiday...I don't see why anyone, regardless of age, should feel compelled to cover up because of some silly rules made up by fashion "journalists". It's sad that we even have to have this debate when there are far more important things to worry about than 40+ midriffs, but such is this mad world of double standards we live in. Rant over. I love your pretty pink jumpsuit and floppy hat. Keep rocking that bikini!

I thought I would be brave and include a bikini photo of 62-year old me. Not such a perfect body as you, or Lizzy, or Michelle, or Nikki. But hey.. you have to give me points for daring. GreetjePS I am holding my tummy in haha

Well I'm a little late linking but what a lovely surprise to see my shot silk embroidered handbag in the Featured Favorites! Thank you so much.I would've looked to have linked a bikini shot but sadly being sooooo pale, in all my photos I'm either wearing a rash guard in or near the pool or covered in a kaftan! Darn my sun sensitive skin. As always, Catherine you look gorgeous and I couldn't agree with you more about it's up to us to decide what we wear, bikini or otherwise!

YESSSSS! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Women should feel free to wear what they love at the beach, just like everywhere else. Especially in America people can be very conservative and judge mental. Loving your beach look, that jumpsuit is amazing!

Catherine, what a lovely surprise to find myself included in your line up this week - thank you! I think you look fabulous in your bikini and agree with you that every woman can and ought to wear what she wants on the beach. I do wear all sorts of beach wear according to my mood and think it's so important to keep being yourself no matter what age. Wishing you a lovely week xAnnawww.annasislandstyle.com

I'm actually going away with my mum in a couple of weeks. She is 64 and has a great figure and has decided to buy some bikinis. At first I was like "mum really? bikinis?" now after reading this I'm like "yay mum good for you!" Thanks for the reminder that we really should be able to wear what we want! #brillblogposts xx

Fabulous! DEFINITELY! Why should we be constrained by rules because of our age! It is all a state of mind and dressing how we want keeps us feeling like ourselves which is the truest value of all! Thank you for this post! #brillblogposts

Love this Catherine, like you, I hate any kind of limitations on women and men-we can wear what we want and be who we want. You look utterly stunning as always, thanks for championing women and being who you are xx

These photos are all SO GORGEOUS! The light, the composition, everything. You look stunning! More to the point, your sentiment is also gorgeous; I wish all women felt empowered to wear whatever they like and sod what anyone else thinks. It is ALL about confidence, isn't it? And you certainly don't have to be perfect to be confident.

Great jumpsuit, but this post would have been more powerful (and a lot less confusing) if you'd shown your bathing suit, instead of one carefully posed old photo of a completely different swim suit. New reader to your blog and very excited about what your doing! Just disappointed with this post.

Hi Ebi, thanks for your comment but the point was to show that women can chose to COVER UP as well if they so wish (see the title), hence why I was wearing the beach jumpsuit. So I showed both sides of the argument by then showing the photo of me in my bikini on holiday last year.

(And to be fair this year's photos are carefully posed too - they are not candid photos!)

The idea of the Monday link up is about allowing women to show off what they've been wearing - and that is to wear WHATEVER they like - hence the hashtag #iwillwearwhatilike. That weekend I fancied wearing a beach jumpsuit because I was in my back garden and to be honest I didn't want to show all the neighbours my bikini, and that was my choice. It was a little different on holiday in Santorini because it's much more the sort of place where wearing a bikini by the pool is more common, and I was more comfortable in that environment to wear it without covering up.

So there wasn't anything to be confused about - the post is about #iwillwearwhatilike and that was what I wanted to wear that weekend in the garden - so it doesn't get much more real than that I'm afraid!

Unfortunately you will get more honesty in my posts about what I wear, I won't be setting things up just to prove a point as it seems you want me to do...!

I missed the cover up part of the title! So thank you for bringing that to my attention. I did catch the hashtag, but I guess I did miss the point that sometimes swim (summer?) outfits are about covering up. I suppose I see so much of that in certain demographics that it never occurred to me anyone would actually want to do that.

I almost hesitated in posting my comment but I'm glad I did because it's really cool you took it seriously (as intended). What you are doing with this blog is great, I follow other 40+ fashion bloggers because I like to see fashion happening on all ages and bodies. As mentioned, I am new to your blog, so I'll have to take some time to poke around and get familiar with your style.

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